The Million-Dollar Heart

Vivienne mulled it over for a second, then said, "Well, it's not exactly like that. My mentor was the kind who'd perk up at the sight of a dollar bill, and now, I'm all about the cash, too. So, I need you to ink a new deal, Vance. You know my Mr. Wolf's unemployed at the moment, and I've got a household to run."

With that, she whipped out a fresh contract and laid it before Vance, the figures in it a whopping fifty percent higher than the previous one.

Without a moment's hesitation, Vance scribbled his signature on the dotted line.

Money was no object when it came to this lifesaving contract.

After closing the contract, Vance's expression regained its composure. "So, is this the reason Jasper called me over today?"

Jasper shook his head. "Of course not. This is a matter my granddaughter brought to you. As for me, I've got another issue to discuss."

Vance straightened up. "What's on your mind?"

"The ancient warrior lineage."

Vance's eyes flickered with disbelief.

Jasper himself hailed from the ancient warrior lineage, and the Perez family held a lofty position within the Vanguard Agency. It was surprising he would broach the topic with Vance, knowing full well that Vance had always wanted to kick the ancient warrior lineage out of the Agency.

"Surprised, huh?" Jasper chuckled. "I know you've got a bone to pick with the ancient warrior lineage, feeling that us old-timers are flexing our family muscles, stifling your special squad's operations, and botching many a mission."

Vance frowned, his gaze drifting over to Percival and Vivienne.

Great, those two were at it again, playing house.

One sipping coffee, the other pouring - living the life of Riley.

Vance had to drag his attention back. "Jasper, just lay your cards on the table."

brewed cup of coffee. "Vance,

is to boot the ancient warrior lineage out of

strolled over to his desk, speaking slowly. "I get why you want to push them out. Over time, their influence has grown massive, almost monopolizing power, to the point where even

vengeful.

watched Jasper quietly, unsure where he

with Noah, did anything strike you

in the Vanguard Agency for nearly sixty years, that..." Vance stopped short,

six decades without anyone catching on? Like those

the others on that

they not tell the difference

Vanguard Agency was a fool. Without inside help, even with GTO cutting off

that even Yorick never

then there was Noah, pushing for the ancient warrior lineage to seize power all these

It dawned on Vance.

warrior lineages must have been pulling strings

mole, could it mean that someone within the lineage had tight ties with

chilling, and Vance could not help

another cup of coffee. "My mentor faked his own death because he was being hunted, and those hunters were

right. When I first tried to locate the Emerald Monastery, I sensed someone was after me, too. We never identified who,

suspected for years that Ulysses had not perished when his family was wiped out but had gone into

investigating discreetly, using his position within the Vanguard Agency

after Finnian's life. Knowing he was no match for these mysterious assailants with his current abilities, he had

by the time he returned, Finnian had succumbed to illness, leaving behind nothing but a

from then on, no